Effects of AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, on rat hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4

AIM To investigate effect of losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, on hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4; and to determine whether or not AT1 receptors are expressed on hepatic stellate cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing (180 +/- 20) g, were randomized into five groups (control group, model group, and three losartan treated groups), in which air rats were given the subcutaneous injection of 40% CCl4(every 3 days for 6 weeks) except for rats of control group. Rats of losartan-treated groups were treated with losartan (20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, daily gavage), After 6 weeks liver tissue and serum samples of all rats were examined. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PC III) were detected by radioimmunoassays. van Giesion collagen staining was used to evaluate the extracellular matrix of rats with liver fibrosis. The expression of AT1 receptors, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in liver tissue were determined by immunohistochemical techniques. Compared with model group, serum ALT and AST of losartan-treated groups were significantly reduced (t = 4.20, P<0.01 and t=4.57, P<0.01), Serum HA and PC III also had significant differences (t = 3.53, P < 0. 01 and t = 2. 20, P < 0. 05), The degree of fibrosis was improved by losartan and correlated with the expressions of AT1 receptors, TGF-beta, and alpha-SMA in liver tissue. CONCLUSION AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, could limit the progression of the hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4. The mechanism may be related to the decrease in the expression of AT1 receptors and TGF-beta, ameliorating the injury of hepatocytes; activation of local renin-angiotensin system might relate to hepatic fibrosis; and during progression of fibrosis, activated hepatic stellate cells might express AT1 receptors.